Re: Chartered Organization Support
Anthony Mako (ajmako@NLS.NET)
Thu, 29 Jul 1999 14:09:22 -0400
<F.KYLE LONGHOFER wrote>
I am curious about what level of financial support is provided to
Troops by their chartered organization and what should the Troop be
expected to do for the chartered organization in exchange for such
support.
Is there any common or accepted amount of financial support provided
to troops by their chartered organization?
</F. KYLE>
Chartered organizations provide "whatever support they can." In most
situations, the CO's financial support comes in the form of paying the
bills to heat, light, and maintain the meeting facility. Some CO's may
provide other funds depending on how they define "support." It really
comes down to three things:
1) The relationship between the CO and the unit
2) The financial stability of the CO
3) The CO's understanding of the BSA charter
As for what the CO can expect in exchange for financial support, at
the very least they expect the unit to help maintain the meeting
facility by not destroying the building. The BSA expects units to also
provide service to the CO by conducting a service project for the CO.
Once again, it really depends on the same three things mentioned
above.
<F. Kyle continued>
The situation is that our troop's chartered organization has been very
generous in its financial support to the troop and has historically
budgeted a certain amount for the troop each year. This year, the COR
was told by the head of the CO that the troop was getting a lot more
financial support than is common or customary. We are not sure who
provided such information to the president of our CO as to what level
of support is common or customary. It would be helpful to know what
level of financial support is
provided by other Chartered Organizations to their troops and what, if
anything, was expected in return for such support.
</F. Kyle continued>
I'm guessing that the CO is talking not about other BSA units, but
other similar programs the CO sponsors. There really isn't a
"standard" level of financial support. Some CO's provide support in
other ways (manpower, use of vehicles, etc.). There are even a couple
CO's out there somewhere who not only provide excellent meeting
facilities and other non-financial support, but also provide their
units with substantial financial support as well.
I would have to say you're pretty lucky, based on my experience, to
have a CO who provides financial support. My present troop is almost
as lucky. Just remember, most CO's are non-profit organizations. They
experience good years AND bad years financially, just like any other
organization. Their comments may simply be part of a search for a
place to make cutbacks. The most important thing to remember is that
the CO owns the unit and can pretty much do anything it wants with it.
If the CO wants your unit to be more self-sufficient, that's their
prerogative. The only time I would worry is if the CO mentions that
they simply can't support the unit anymore (that's usually a hint that
they're getting ready to drop the unit entirely!).
As for what some CO's give and what they expect in return, and can
give you three examples. My troop, when I was a Scout, received a
small amount of money occasionally from the CO. None of the Scouts in
the troop were members of that church, nor were any of the adults. All
that was expected of the troop was "keep on doing what you're doing
and try not to break anything."
The first troop I was an adult leader in went through three CO's in
four years. In each case, the CO provided little more than a place to
meet. In one case, the troop leaders didn't even have keys to the
building. In another case, the CO didn't even own the building where
we met! There was no financial support whatsoever from these three
organizations.
The troop I have now has been sponsored by the local VFW post. We have
almost exclusive access to an excellent meeting facility, and storage
for our equipment. We receive about $200 a year as a donation right
around recharter time. All they ever ask for in return is a thank you
note they can read into the minutes. We do help clean up after other
groups who use the pavilion or sports field, but the VFW has never
asked us to. That's pretty much as it should be, shouldn't it?
YIS
A. J. Mako, ajmako@nls.net , Scoutmaster Troop 381
Home of the Unofficial Win95 Boy Scout Desktop Theme,
http://members.aol.com/Scouts381/
Old Portage District, Great Trail Council, BSA
"I used to be an Eagle (C-7-97), but I'll always be an Eagle (1981)"
